System for presenting consumer data

Abstract

Software based methods to capture consumer data such as purchase or service receipt gratification data and to present composite or individual information back to pre-purchase consumers are provided. In several embodiments, systems and methods for creating and sustaining a database, systems and methods for marking statistical data as potentially suspect (e.g., low integrity or suspicious), systems and methods for presenting data hierarchically (such as in an information pyramid), and systems and methods for fast user interfaces (e.g., five seconds or less) are presented. Additionally, advertising information and claims, consumer report information and claims, adver-torial information and claims, and options to link to other information such as that in web sites, banner advertising information and claims, and access to independent testing organization information and claims are presented. Further, systems for Internet business practices, systems for consumer contact management, and for consumer messaging are presented.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for presenting consumer data, comprising the steps of: 
 a) establishing a consumer purchase database including consumer purchase information;    b) establishing an access threshold credit value associated with some aspect of said consumer purchase database;    c) providing an avenue for user access to said consumer purchase database;    d) permitting communication by a user associated with said consumer purchase database;    e) obtaining identification information of said user;    f) comparing said identification information with registrant information;    g) determining that a consumer purchase database credit value associated with said user exceeds said access threshold credit value;    h) authorizing access by said user to at least a portion of said consumer purchase database;    i) prompting said user for product identification input;    j) comparing said product identification information with said consumer purchase database;    k) providing consumer data to said user; and    l) adjusting said consumer purchase database credit value of said user.    
     
     
         2 . A method for presenting consumer data as described in  claim 1  wherein said step of providing consumer data comprises the step of providing a format of information that is immediately assimilatable.  
     
     
         3 . A method for presenting consumer data as described in  claim 1  wherein said step of adjusting said consumer purchase database credit value of said user comprises the step of building credits through product information input.  
     
     
         4 . A method for presenting consumer data as described in  claim 1  wherein said step of comparing said product identification information input with said consumer purchase database comprises a step selected from the group consisting of: accepting scanned Universal Product Code information input, accepting number input, accepting Universal Product Code information input, accepting product manufacturer input, accepting product category input, and accepting voice input.  
     
     
         5 . A method for presenting consumer data as described in  claim 1  wherein said step of permitting communication by a user comprises the step of accepting a cell phone access.  
     
     
         6 . A method for presenting consumer data as described in  claim 1  and further comprising the step of scanning product identification information through an integral cell phone feature.  
     
     
         7 . A method for presenting consumer data as described in  claim 3  wherein said step of building credits through product information input comprises the step of obtaining simplified product information input.  
     
     
         8 . A method for presenting consumer data as described in  claim 7  wherein said step of obtaining simplified product information input comprises the step of prompting a binary input.  
     
     
         9 . A method for presenting consumer data as described in  claim 8  wherein said step of prompting a binary input comprises the step of prompting an input selected from a group consisting of a positive input, a negative input, and a neutral input.  
     
     
         10 . A method for presenting consumer data as described in  claim 8  wherein said step of prompting a binary input comprises the step of prompting sequenced input.  
     
     
         11 . A method for presenting consumer data as described in  claim 2  wherein said step of providing consumer data to said user comprises the step of providing data having a hierarchical information structure.  
     
     
         12 . A method for presenting consumer data as described in  claim 3  wherein said step of building credits through product information input comprises the step of building a type of credit for similar input.  
     
     
         13 . A method for presenting consumer data as described in  claim 1  wherein said step of providing consumer data comprises the step of establishing an integrity tag.  
     
     
         14 . A method for presenting consumer data as described in  claim 1  and further comprising the step of forming a user profile based on information exchanged.  
     
     
         15 . A method for presenting consumer data as described in  claim 11  wherein said step of providing data having a hierarchical information structure comprises a step selected from the group consisting of: offering a manufacturer's input, offering a promotional discount, and offering conditional information.  
     
     
         16 . A method for presenting consumer data as described in  claim 3  and further comprising a step selected from a group consisting of: obtaining product input, seeking a binary input, seeking positive/negative input, seeking positive/negative/neutral input, providing said consumer data fast, providing said consumer data in at most five seconds, and providing said consumer data immediately.  
     
     
         17 . A method for presenting consumer data as described in  claim 3  and further comprising the step of determining the permissibility of continued user access.  
     
     
         18 . A method for presenting consumer data, comprising the steps of: 
 a) establishing a consumer purchase collection of consumer purchase determinants;    b) providing an avenue for user access to said consumer purchase collection;    c) permitting communication with said consumer purchase collection by a user;    d) prompting said user for product identification input;    e) obtaining product identification input from said user; and    f) providing at least a part of said consumer purchase determinants to said user.    
     
     
         19 . A method for presenting consumer data as described in  claim 18  wherein said step of obtaining product identification input from said user comprises a step selected from the group consisting of: accepting scanned Universal Product Code information input, accepting number input, accepting Universal Product Code information input, accepting product manufacturer input, accepting product category input, and accepting voice input.  
     
     
         20 . A method for presenting consumer data as described in  claim 18  wherein said consumer purchase determinants are selected from the group consisting of: consumer information, coupons, and manufacturing information.